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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 73 records · Page 4

10-micrometers images and spectra of T Tauri stars

T Tauri stars are young stars usually surrounded by dusty disks similar to the one from which we believe our own Solar System formed. Most T Tauri stars exhibit a broad emission or absorption band between 7.5 and 13.5 micrometers which is attributed to silicate grains in the circumstellar environment. We imaged three spatially resolved T Tauri binaries through a set of broadband filters which include the spectral region occupied by the silicate band. Two of these objects (T Tauri and Haro 6-10) are 'infrared companion' systems in which one component is optically much fainter but contributes strongly in the infrared. Both infrared companions exhibit a deep silicate absorption which is not present in their primaries, indicating that they suffer very strong local extinction whigh may be due to an edge-on circumstellar disk or to a dense shell. We also took low resolution spectra of the silicate feature of two unresolved T Tauris to look for narrow features in the silicate band which would indicate the presence of specific minerals such as olivine. We observed GK Tau, for which Cohen and Witteborn (1985) reported a narrow emission feature at 9.7 micrometers, but do not find evidence for this feature, and conclude that it is either time-dependent or an artifact of absorption by telluric ozone.

Van Cleve, J. E.↗

High T(sub c) Superconducting Bolometer on Chemically Etched 7 Micrometer Thick Sapphire

A transition-edge IR detector, using a YBa2Cu3O(7-x) (YBCO) thin film deposited on a chemically etched, 7 micrometer thick sapphire substrate has been built. To our knowledge it is the first such high T(sub c) superconducting (HTS) bolometer on chemically thinned sapphire. The peak optical detectivity obtained is l.2 x 10(exp 10) cmHz(sup 1/2)/W near 4Hz. Result shows that it is possible to obtain high detectivity with thin films on etched sapphire with no processing after the deposition of the YBCO film. We discuss the etching process and its potential for micro-machining sapphire and fabricating 2-dimensional detector arrays with suspended sapphire membranes. A 30 micrometer thick layer of gold black provided IR absorption. Comparison is made with the current state of the art on silicon substrates.

Lakew, B.↗

The Herschel ATLAS: Evolution of the 250 Micrometer Luminosity Function Out to z = 0.5

We have determined the luminosity function of 250 micrometer-selected galaxies detected in the approximately equal to 14 deg(sup 2) science demonstration region of the Herschel-ATLAS project out to a redshift of z = 0.5. Our findings very clearly show that the luminosity function evolves steadily out to this redshift. By selecting a sub-group of sources within a fixed luminosity interval where incompleteness effects are minimal, we have measured a smooth increase in the comoving 250 micrometer luminosity density out to z = 0.2 where it is 3.6(sup +1.4) (sub -0.9) times higher than the local value.

Dye, S.↗

Asteroid (101955) 1999 RQ36: Spectroscopy from 0.4 to 2.4 Micrometer and Meteorite Analogs

We present reflectance spectra from 0.4 to 2.4 ?m of Asteroid (101955) 1999 RQ36, the target of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft mission. The visible spectral data were obtained at the McDonald Observatory 2.1-m telescope with the ES2 spectrograph. The infrared spectral data were obtained at the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility using the SpeX instrument. The average visible spectrum is combined with the average near-infrared wavelength spectrum to form a composite spectrum. We use three methods to constrain the compositional information in the composite spectrum of Asteroid (101955) 1999 RQ36 (hereafter RQ36). First, we perform a least-squares search for meteorite spectral analogs using 15,000 spectra from the RELAB database. Three most likely meteorite analogs are proposed based on the least-squares search. Next, six spectral parameters are measured for RQ36 and their values are compared with the ranges in parameter values of the carbonaceous chondrite meteorite classes. A most likely meteorite analog group is proposed based on the depth of overlap in parameter values. The results of the least-squares search and the parametric comparisons point to CIs and/or CMs as the most likely meteorite analogs for RQ36, and COs and CHs as the least likely. RQ36 has a spectrally blue continuum slope that is also observed in carbonaceous chondrites containing magnetite. We speculate that RQ36 is composed of a CM1 -like material. Finally, we compare RQ36 to other B-type asteroids measured by Clark et al. (Clark, B.E. et al. [2010]. J. Geophys. Res. 115, E06005). The results of this comparison are inconclusive. RQ36 is comparable to Themis spectral properties in terms of its albedo, visible spectrum, and near-infrared spectrum from 1.1 to 1.45 micrometers. However, RQ36 is more similar to Pallas in terms of its near-infrared spectrum from 1.6 to 2.3 micrometers. Thus it is possible that B-type asteroids form a spectral continuum and that RQ36 is a transitional object, spectrally intermediate between the two end-members. This is particularly interesting because Asteroid 24 Themis was recently discovered to have H2O ice on the surface (Rivkin, A., Emery, J. [2010]. Nature 464, 1322 1323; Campins, H. et al. [2010a]. Nature 464, 1320 1321).

Clark, Beth Ellen↗

Portable 4.6 Micrometers Laser Absorption Spectrometer for Carbon Monoxide Monitoring and Fire Detection

The air quality aboard manned spacecraft must be continuously monitored to ensure crew safety and identify equipment malfunctions. In particular, accurate real-time monitoring of carbon monoxide (CO) levels helps to prevent chronic exposure and can also provide early detection of combustion-related hazards. For long-duration missions, environmental monitoring grows in importance, but the mass and volume of monitoring instruments must be minimized. Furthermore, environmental analysis beyond low-Earth orbit must be performed in-situ, as sample return becomes impractical. Due to their small size, low power draw, and performance reliability, semiconductor-laser-based absorption spectrometers are viable candidates for this purpose. To reduce instrument form factor and complexity, the emission wavelength of the laser source should coincide with strong fundamental absorption lines of the target gases, which occur in the 3 to 5 micrometers wavelength range for most combustion products of interest, thereby reducing the absorption path length required for low-level concentration measurements. To address the needs of current and future NASA missions, we have developed a prototype absorption spectrometer using a semiconductor quantum cascade laser source operating near 4.6 micrometers that can be used to detect low concentrations of CO with a compact single-pass absorption cell. In this study, we present the design of the prototype instrument and report on measurements of CO emissions from the combustion of a variety of aerospace plastics.

Tunable Environmental Laser Spectrometer (TELS)↗

LaRC SmartLab Apps For Instrument Control And Data Processing: Optical Micrometer Data Visualizer

The LaRC Smart Lab applications are a series of software tools to greatly enhance researcher efficiency by streamlining and automating workflows. Python scripts and applications are increasingly being used in scientific workflows, including for instrument control and data processing. Interactive Python scripting environments such as Jupyter Lab provide powerful tools for using Python. In some use cases, the development of standalone applications with dedicated graphical user interfaces (GUIs) can enhance the utility of the code and open it up to more users, including non-programmers. Here, we describe a GUI based optical micrometer data visualization application developed as part of the LaRC SmartLab project. We highlight its use in visualizing experimental data and briefly discuss its implementation to give pointers to programmers who wish develop work based on this application's or similar co de.

LaRC SmartLab↗

Laser interferometer micrometer system

Laser micrometer measures dimensions of precision gyro and gas bearing parts using the principle of measuring light phase changes rather than a direct fringe count. The system uses light beams to eliminate errors due to deformations and surface irregularities, and three interferometers.

Logue, S. H.↗

A 10, 6-micrometer laser receiver RF subsystem

A simplified laser receiver carrier tracking loop is described. The laser carrier is optically mixed with a locally generated 10.6 micrometer signal, thereby translating the received signal to an IF signal that varies between dc and GHz. This signal is fed to a second order carrier tracking loop that contains a transistor LC oscillator tuned by a varactor over a 1 GHz range; transistor shunt capacitance increases the upper frequency bound of the oscillator in a high Doppler environment.

Santarpia, D. E.↗

10-micrometer band communication terminals in space.

Ten-micrometer band communication systems using CO2 lasers for space to space links are discussed. Particular emphasis is on low earth orbiting earth observation satellites to geosynchronous satellites at high data rate. Four key technology areas are discussed: wideband mixers for Doppler tracking; tunable laser local oscillators; high data rate modulators; and laser transmitters.

Mcavoy, N.↗

Development and performance of IR detectors in the 1.5 to 2.4 micrometer region that operate at 240 K

High performance 1.5 to 2.4 micrometers (Hg,Cd)Te photodetectors for operating at 240 K or above are discussed. The detailed characterization of the detector with respect to detector temperature and background flux led to a development of an empirical model for minority carrier trapping. The concept of detective time constant is presented and successfully demonstrated by the four detectors delivered on this contract. An alternative approach is presented with the use of photovoltaic (Hg,Cd)Te detectors.

Chiang, A. F.↗

Opto-mechanical subsystem of a 10 micrometer wavelength receiver terminal. Waveguide laser local oscillator. Servo system

An engineering model opto-mechanical subsystem for a 10.6-micrometer laser heterodyne receiver is developed, and a CO2 waveguide local oscillator and servo electronics are provided for the receiver. Design goals are presented for the subsystems and overall package design is described. Thermal and mechanical distortion loading tests were performed and the results are included.

Source record↗

Radiation cooler for 10 micrometer wavelength engineering model receiver model no. 7172, serial no. 201

The design, fabrication, and testing of a radiative cooler are described. This cooler is an engineering model suitable for bench testing in the laboratory as a part of the 10-micrometer wavelength engineering model receiver, and conforms to the standard radiative cooler configuration, except that the inner stage and its support system were redesigned to accommodate the larger, heavier SAT detector. This radiative cooler will cool the detector to cryogenic temperature levels when the receiver is in a space environment or in a suitable thermal vacuum chamber. Equipment specifications are given along with the results of thermal tests, vibration tests, and electrical integrity tests.

Source record↗

Heterojunction III-V alloy photodetectors for high-sensitivity 1.06-micrometers optical receivers

It is pointed out that currently promising technical developments related to the Nd-YAG laser technology at 1.06 micrometers cannot be implemented because of the absence of a suitable detector. Such a detector could possibly be provided in connection with new advances related to the development of the heterojunction III-V alloy photodiode. Details of detector requirements for the considered applications are discussed along with approaches to satisfy these requirements by an appropriate detector design.

Eden, R. C.↗

Jupiter - Its infrared spectrum from 16 to 40 micrometers

Spectral measurements of the thermal radiation from Jupiter in the band from 16 to 40 micrometers are analyzed under the assumption that pressure-broadened molecular hydrogen transitions are responsible for the bulk of the infrared opacity over most of this spectral interval. Both the vertical pressure-temperature profile and the molecular hydrogen mixing ratio are determined. The derived value of the molecular hydrogen mixing ratio, 0.89 plus or minus 0.11, is consistent with the solar value of 0.86.

Houck, J. R.↗